Preliminary Report on the Survey of the Health Status of the Spiny-Tailed Lizard (Uromastyx Sp) in Wrsan Farm, Al Ajban, Abu

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ﺍﻟﻤﺠﻠﺪ ١ ﺍﻟﻌﺪﺩ ٣ ﻛﺎﻧﻮﻥ ﺍﻟﺄﻭﻝ ٢٠٠٦ PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE SURVEY OF THE HEALTH STATUS OF THE SPINY-TAILED LIZARD ‘ (UROMASTYX SP) ∑ƒ°ûŸG πjòdG äGP á«∏ë°ù∏d á«ë°üdG ádÉë∏d á°SGQódG §£îŸ …ó«¡“ ôjô≤J (UROMASTYX SP) IN WRSAN FARM, AL AJBAN, ABU DHABI, UAE IóëàŸG á«Hô©dG äGQÉeE’G ,»ÑX ƒHCG ,¿ÉÑLC’G, ø°SQGh áYQõe

Jesus Naldo, Jaime Samour and Nelson Libanan References References ¿ÉæÑ«d ¿ƒ°ù∏«f h Qƒª°S º«L ,hódÉf ¢ù°ù«L Management of H.H. Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Wrsan Farm, Wildlife Division, P.O. Box 77338, Abu Cunningham, P., (2002), Reptiles.http://www.enhg.org/E Cunningham, P., (2002), Reptiles.http://www.enhg.org/E .IóëàªdG á«Hô©dG äGQÉeEÉdG , »ÑX ƒHCG , 77338 ójôH ¥hóæ°U , ájôÑdG IÉ«ëdG º°ùb , ø°SQGh áYQõe , ¿É«¡f ∫BG ójGR øH ¿É£∏°S ï«°ûdG IQGOEG Dhabi, UAE. NHG%20Newsletters/2002/03_mar2002/mar2002.htm. NHG%20Newsletters/2002/03_mar2002/mar2002.htm.

There are two species of spiny-tailed lizard, called ‘dhub’ locally, that are present in the UAE, namely, Egan, D. Reptile fact file: Dhub den. http://www.arabianw Egan, D. Reptile fact file: Dhub den. http://www.arabianw GójóëJ h IóëàªdG á«Hô©dG äGQÉeEÉdG »a IOƒLƒe ,"ÜƒgO" É«∏ëe ≈YóJ ∑ƒ°ûªdG πjòdG äGP á«∏ë°ùdG øe ¿ÉYƒf óLƒj ildlife.com/current/dubh.html ildlife.com/current/dubh.html the Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia microlepis) and Leptien’s spiny-tailed lizard ´ƒf ∑ƒ°ûªdG πjòdG äGP á«∏ë°ùdG h ( Uromastyx aegyptia microlepis) ájô°üªdG ∑ƒ°ûªdG πjòdG äGP á«∏ë°ùdG (Uromastyx leptieni). The two species are very similar and Leptien’s spiny-tailed lizard was only ‘Save the Dhubs’ project launched. Khaleej Times. 4 June ‘Save the Dhubs’ project launched. Khaleej Times. 4 June 2000 ΩÉ©dG »a äõ«e »àdG Leptian ´ƒf ,∑ƒ°ûªdG πjòdG äGP á«∏ë°ùdG ´ƒf h ,GóL ¿É¡HÉ°ûàe Éª¡a(Uromastyx leptieni) recognized as being a distinct species in 2000. The Leptien’s spiny-tailed lizard is believed to be 2005. http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xf 2005. http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xf endemic to the UAE. ile=data/theuae/2005/June/theuae_Jun. ile=data/theuae/2005/June/theuae_Jun. .IóëàªdG á«Hô©dG äGQÉeEÉdG øWƒà°ùJ ¬fCG ó≤à©j h United Arab Emirates Yearbook 2006. http://www.uaeinte United Arab Emirates Yearbook 2006. http://www.uaeinte Spiny-tailed lizards are large ground dwelling herbivorous lizards found on gravel terrain and inter- ract.com/uaeint_misc/pdf_2006/English2006/eyb10.pdf. ract.com/uaeint_misc/pdf_2006/English2006/eyb10.pdf. ø«H á°Uƒ°UôªdG áHôàdG h ájƒ°üëdG »°VGQCÉdG »a óLƒJ h ¢VQCÉdG ≈∏Y ¢û«©J Ö°û©∏d á∏cBG »g ∑ƒ°ûªdG πjòdG äGP á«∏ë°ùdG ¿EG dune compact soils throughout the UAE. They can grow up to 65cm long and usually live in loose ,ábôØàe äÉæWƒà°ùe »a ¢û«©J IOÉY h º°S 65 ≈dEG π°üj ∫ƒW ≈dEG ƒªæJ ¿CG øµªj »g h IóëàªdG á«Hô©dG äGQÉeEÉdG πc »a ¿ÉÑãµdG colonies. There is rarely one burrow on its own but usually several, at some 20 to 50 m distance from h , É¡fGô«L øY Gôàe 50-20 áaÉ°ùe »a ¢û«©J h ,ójó©dG ∑Éæg ¿ƒµj IOÉY øµd h ¬«a ¢û«©J óMGh OhóNCG ∑Éæg ¿ƒµj Ée GQOÉfh its neighbour. Despite their dragon-like appearance they are very placid animals that prefer to flee rather than enter into conflict. Their favoured plants include the coarse desert grasses as well as the ¿EGh .á¡LGƒªdG »a ∫ƒNódG øe ÉdóH Ühô¡dG π°†ØJ »àdG ,GóL áØ«dCG äÉfGƒ«M É¡fEÉa ø«æàdG ¬Ñ°ûj …òdG É¡∏µ°T øe ºZôdÉH evergreen herbs, with arthropods making up less than 1% of their diet. They have a very low metabo- »àdG πLQCÉdG äÉ«∏°üØe äGô°ûM h ,Iô°†îdG áªFGO ÜÉ°ûYCÉdG É°†jCG h ,áæ°ûîdG ájhGôë°üdG ÜÉ°ûYCÉdG πª°ûJ á∏°†ØªdG É¡JÉJÉÑf lism that allows them to not only make the most of a low calorie diet, but to also go several weeks ≈≤ÑJ h äGôjôëdG ¢†Øîæe É¡FGòZ º¶©e øe ó«Øà°ùJ ¿CÉH É¡d íª°ùj PG,GóL ¢†Øîæe ÜÉ∏≤à°SG É¡d h É¡FGòZ øe %1 πµ°ûJ without eating anything. They rarely need to drink as they extract most of their water from their food. h ,É¡FGòZ øe AÉªdG øe É¡àLÉM ôãcCG ≈∏Y π°üëJ É¡fCG å«M Üô°ûJ ¿CG ≈dEG êÉàëJ Ée GQOÉf »g h ΩÉ©W É∏H ™«HÉ°SCG IóY É°†jCG Excessive salts are excreted through a salt gland near its eyes. .É¡«æ«Y Üôb á«ë∏e IóZ ≥jôW øY ìô£J IóFGõdG ìÉ∏eCÉdG The number of spiny-tailed lizard is believed to be under threat because of the development of many areas where they live. It is protected by law in the UAE, and trade is banned under the Convention on ÖLƒªH á«ªëe »g h ,É¡«a ¢û«©J »àdG ≥WÉæªdG øe ójó©dG Qƒ£J ÖÑ°ùH IOó¡e É¡fG ó≤à©j ∑ƒ°ûªdG πjòdG äGP »dÉë°ùdG OóY ¿EG Figure 1. Spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx sp) or ‘dhub’ (J. Naldo ©) International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES). ¢ùª°ûàJ ∑ƒ°ûªdG πjòdG äGP á«∏ë°ùdG -1 πµ°ûdG äÉfGƒ«ëdG h äÉJÉÑæ∏d IOó¡ªdG ´GƒfCÉdG »a á«ªdÉ©dG IQÉéàdG á«bÉØJG ÖLƒªH áeôëe É¡H IQÉéàdG h äGQÉeEÉdG »a ¿ƒfÉ≤dG lizard basking under the sun. (© J. Naldo) (CITES ) There is very little information available on the health status of this species in the wild. In this regard a study was conducted to determine the health status of the spiny-tailed lizard population in Wrsan ádÉëdG ójóëàd á°SGQO âjôLCG ó≤a Oó°üdG Gò¡Hh ,ájôÑdG »a É¡YGƒfCÉd á«ë°üdG ádÉëdG øY IôaƒàªdG äÉeƒ∏©ªdG øe π«∏≤dG óLƒj Farm, Al Ajban, Abu Dhabi. This is a preliminary report of that study. The lizards were caught manually Éªe ¢†©H Gòg .IóëàªdG á«Hô©dG äGQÉeEÉdG – »ÑXƒHCG »a ¿ÉÑLCÉdG - ø°SQGh áYQõe »a ∑ƒ°ûªdG πjòdG äGP á«∏ë°ù∏d á«ë°üdG after 8:00 in the morning when they came out from their burrows to bask under the sun. They were anaesthetized with isoflurane and oxygen. While under anaesthesia the following procedures were ÉgQƒëL øe âLôN »àdG h ÉMÉÑ°U áæeÉãdG áYÉ°ùdG ó©H Éjhój âµ°ùeCG »àdG »dÉë°ùdG ¿CG ,á°SGQódG √ò¡d »dhCÉdG ôjô≤àdG »a AÉL performed: physical examination, radiographical examination, measurement of body weight and total ¢üëØdG : á«dÉàdG äÉ«∏ª©dG AGôLEG ºJ ôjóîàdG âëJ »g Éªæ«H ,ø«é°ùchCÉdCG h ¿GQƒ∏ahõjEÉdCG á£°SGƒH ÉgôjóîJ ºJ ób ,¢ùª°ûààd length, collection of blood samples for haematology and serum chemistry analysis and collection of AÉ«ª«c h …ƒeódG ¢üëØdG πLCG øe ΩódG äÉæ«Y ™ªL h ,»∏µdG ∫ƒ£dG h ,º°ùédG ¿Rh ¢SÉ«b ,»YÉ©°ûdG ¢üëØdG ,»FÉjõ«ØdG oro-pharyngeal and cloacal swabs for microbiological and cytological examinations. Faecal samples øe RGôÑdG äÉæ«Y â©ªL .ájƒ∏îdG h á«eƒKôéd äÉ°UƒëØdG AGôLEG πLCG øe á«Lô°T h á«eƒ©∏H ájƒªa äÉë°ùe ™ªL ºJ h π°üªdG were collected for parasitological examination. Each individual animal was photographed and marked Üôb ∂dP ó©H äQôM ób h ,√ô¡X ≈∏Y ∞jô©J ºbôH ¬«∏Y áeÉ∏Y â©°Vh h OôØæe ¿Gƒ«M πc ôjƒ°üJ ºJh ,»∏«Ø£dG ¢üëØdG πLCG with an identification number on its back. It was then released back near its capture site late in the Figure 2. The body weights of the Spiny-tailed lizards ø«H âfÉc ∑ƒ°ûªdG πjòdG äGP á«∏ë°ùdG º°ùL ¿GRhCG -2 πµ°ûdG .»dÉàdG Ωƒ«dG ìÉÑ°U »ahCG ô¡¶dG ó©H É≤MÉd Égô°SCG ™bƒe afternoon or the next morning. (Uromastyx sp) were between 328 – 2146g for males and (J. Naldo ©) çÉfEÉ∏d ΩGôZ 1082-418 h Qƒcò∏d ΩGôZ 2146-328 418 – 1082g for fem ales. (© J. Naldo) A total of 90 spiny-tailed lizards comprising of 61 males and 29 females were included in this study. »a â∏NO »àdG ≈ãfCG 29 h GôcP 61 É¡æe ∑ƒ°ûªdG πjòdG äGP á«∏ë°S 90 ≈dEG π°üj »dÉªLEG OóY øe äÉeƒ∏©e òNCG ºJ óbh The body weights were between 328 – 2146g for males and 418 – 1082g for females. The total 36^2 ø«H âfÉc á«∏µdG ∫GƒWCÉdGh çÉfEÉ∏d ΩGôZ 1082-418 h Qƒcò∏d ΩGôZ 2146 - 328 ø«H âfÉc º°ùéd ¿GRhCG ¿EG h ,á°SGQódG lengths were between 36.2 – 71cm for males and 39.7 – 54.8cm for females. ßMƒdh ,Éjôjô°S áª«∏°S â°üëa »àdG ∑ƒ°ûªdG πjòdG äGP »dÉë°ùdG º¶©e âfÉc, çÉfEÉ∏d º°S 54^8-39^7 h Qƒcò∏d º°S 71 - The majority of the spiny-tailed lizards examined were clinically normal. Some abnormalities observed ìhôL ,IÉaÉ©e Qƒ°ùc ,π°UÉØªdG ÜÉ¡àdGh ´ÉîædG h º¶©dG ÜÉ¡àdG ,∫ƒëædG É¡«a ÉªH äÉfGƒ«ëdG øe π«∏≤dG »a Phò°ûdG ¢†©H in few animals included extreme emaciation (2), osteomyelitis and/or arthritis (8), healed fractures (5), ø«H øe .…ƒ∏©dG ∂ØdG √ƒ°ûJ h ÖdÉîªdG ¿Gó≤a hCG √ƒ°ûJ ,™HÉ°UCÉdCG ¿Gó≤a hCG ,πjòdG ¢ShDhQ ó≤a hCG √ƒ°ûJ ,IójóL äÉ°†Y øY áéJÉf fresh bite wounds (5), deformed or missing tail tips (5), deformed or missing digits (4), deformed or ΩódG ºKôéJ áLQO h .Haemoproteus sp ΩƒKôL ≈dEG áÑ°ùædÉH á«HÉéjEG âfÉc (% 65^5 ) 59 ¿EÉa ¢UƒëØe …ƒeO AÉ°ûZ90 missing claws (8) and deformed upper jaw (1). É¡eÉ¶©d πeÉµdG ô«Z º¶©àdG á£°SGƒH ô¡X Éªc á¨dÉH ¬Ñ°T âfÉc â°üëa »àdG »dÉë°ùdG øe % 25-20 ø«H h %10-1 ø«H ¿Éc ájOƒ≤æ©dG äGQƒµªdG ,äÉØFGõdG ,á«fƒdƒ≤dG á«µjô°ûjEÉdG âfÉc …ƒªØdG Ωƒ©∏ÑdG äÉë°ùe øe âdõY »àdG AÉ«MCÉdGh , á∏jƒ£dG Out of 90 blood films examined, 59 (65.5%) were found positive with Haemoproteus sp. The degree h ájô«°ù«ædG h á«°ùfó«ahôÑdG ´GƒfCG , Éà«H Ωó∏d á∏∏ëªdG ájOƒ≤æ©dG äGQƒµªdG h ,Ωó∏d á∏∏ëªdG ô«Z ájó≤©dG äGQƒµªdG , ájhô°ûÑdG of parasitemia was between 1 – 10%. Between 20 to 25% of the spiny-tailed lizards examined were Figure 3. A Spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx sp) being »YÉ©°ûdG ¢üëØ∏d ô°†ëJ ∑ƒ°ûªdG πjòdG äGP á«∏ë°ùdG -3 πµ°ûdG sub-adults as evidenced by the incomplete ossification of their long bones. Organisms isolated from prepared for radiographical examination. The animal is (J. Naldo ©) .ø«é°ùcCÉdGh øjQƒ∏ahRƒjCÉdÉH ôjóîàdG âëJ á∏∏ëªdG ô«Z ájOƒ≤æ©dG äGQƒµªdG ´GƒfCG ,IôKóàªdG ,á«fƒdƒ≤dG á«µjô°ûjEÉdG â∏ª°T á«Lô°ûdG äÉë°ùªdG øe âdõY »àdG AÉ«MCÉdG oropharyngeal swabs included Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp, Staphylococcus epidermidis, non- anaesthetized with isoflurane and oxygen. (© J. Naldo) ájƒ©ªdG áeƒKôédG ,á«Ñ«æ©dG á«eƒKôédG ,á«°ù«fó«ahôÑdG ,∞FGhõdG ,á∏«fƒª∏°ùdG h á∏«°ù«HÉ∏µdG ,ájRGôÑdG ájó≤©dG äGQƒµªdG ,Ωó∏d haemolytic Streptococcus, Beta-haemolytic Staphylococcus, Providencia sp and Neissseria sp. ,Ö°SÉæªdG âbƒdG »a ô°ûæ«°S á°SGQódG √ò¡d πeÉµdGôjô≤àdG á«JGô«°ùdG h Organisms isolated from cloacal swabs included Escherichia coli, Proteus sp, Non-haemolytic Staphy- lococcus, Streptococcus faecalis, Klebsiella sp, Salmonella sp, Pseudomonas sp, Providencia sp, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter and Serratia sp. ºbÉW πch ájôÑdG IÉ«ëdG º°ù≤d …ôjô°ùdG åëÑdG èeÉfôH ¬ªYód ¿É«¡f ∫BG ójGR øH ¿É£∏°S ï«°ûdG ƒª°ùdG ÖMÉ°U ôµ°ûf øëf áeó≤ªdG á«æØdG ¬JóYÉ°ùªd πª©dG The full report of this study will be published in due time.

Acknowledgements We thank His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his support to the clinical and research programme of the Wildlife Division and to all staff for technical assistance provided. Figure 4. Blood collection from the ventral tail vein for πLCG øe »æ£ÑdG πjòdG ójQh øe ΩódG äÉæ«Y ™ªL -4 πµ°ûdG haematology and chemistry analysis. (© J. Naldo) (J. Naldo ©) .…hÉª«µdG π«∏ëàdG h …ƒeódG í°üØdG 5. .5